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Stellar Kinematic Groups. II. A Reexamination of the Membership, Activity, and Age of the Ursa Major GroupUtilizing Hipparcos parallaxes, original radial velocities and recentliterature values, new Ca II H and K emission measurements,literature-based abundance estimates, and updated photometry (includingrecent resolved measurements of close doubles), we revisit the UrsaMajor moving group membership status of some 220 stars to produce afinal clean list of nearly 60 assured members, based on kinematic andphotometric criteria. Scatter in the velocity dispersions and H-Rdiagram is correlated with trial activity-based membership assignments,indicating the usefulness of criteria based on photometric andchromospheric emission to examine membership. Closer inspection,however, shows that activity is considerably more robust at excludingmembership, failing to do so only for <=15% of objects, perhapsconsiderably less. Our UMa members demonstrate nonzero vertex deviationin the Bottlinger diagram, behavior seen in older and recent studies ofnearby young disk stars and perhaps related to Galactic spiralstructure. Comparison of isochrones and our final UMa group membersindicates an age of 500+/-100 Myr, some 200 Myr older than thecanonically quoted UMa age. Our UMa kinematic/photometric members' meanchromospheric emission levels, rotational velocities, and scattertherein are indistinguishable from values in the Hyades and smaller thanthose evinced by members of the younger Pleiades and M34 clusters,suggesting these characteristics decline rapidly with age over 200-500Myr. None of our UMa members demonstrate inordinately low absolutevalues of chromospheric emission, but several may show residual fluxes afactor of >=2 below a Hyades-defined lower envelope. If one defines aMaunder-like minimum in a relative sense, then the UMa results maysuggest that solar-type stars spend 10% of their entire main-sequencelives in periods of precipitously low activity, which is consistent withestimates from older field stars. As related asides, we note six evolvedstars (among our UMa nonmembers) with distinctive kinematics that liealong a 2 Gyr isochrone and appear to be late-type counterparts to diskF stars defining intermediate-age star streams in previous studies,identify a small number of potentially very young but isolated fieldstars, note that active stars (whether UMa members or not) in our samplelie very close to the solar composition zero-age main sequence, unlikeHipparcos-based positions in the H-R diagram of Pleiades dwarfs, andargue that some extant transformations of activity indices are notadequate for cool dwarfs, for which Ca II infrared triplet emissionseems to be a better proxy than Hα-based values for Ca II H and Kindices.

Photometric Investigation of the MBM 12 Molecular Cloud Area in Aries. II. Cloud DistancePhotoelectric magnitudes and color indices in the Vilnius seven-colorsystem for 152 stars are used to investigate the interstellar extinctionin the area of the Aries molecular cloud MBM 12, coinciding with theL1454 and L1457 dust clouds. Spectral types, absolute magnitudes, colorexcesses, interstellar extinctions and distances of the stars aredetermined. The plot of interstellar extinction A_V versus distanceshows that the dust cloud is situated at a distance of 325 pc, at 180 pcfrom the Galactic plane, and its true diameter is about 11 pc. Theinterstellar extinction law in the area is found to be normal, typicalfor the diffuse dust. Ten peculiar or unresolved binary stars and someheavily reddened stars are detected.

Rotational velocities of A-type stars in the northern hemisphere. II. Measurement of v sin iThis work is the second part of the set of measurements of v sin i forA-type stars, begun by Royer et al. (\cite{Ror_02a}). Spectra of 249 B8to F2-type stars brighter than V=7 have been collected at Observatoirede Haute-Provence (OHP). Fourier transforms of several line profiles inthe range 4200-4600 Å are used to derive v sin i from thefrequency of the first zero. Statistical analysis of the sampleindicates that measurement error mainly depends on v sin i and thisrelative error of the rotational velocity is found to be about 5% onaverage. The systematic shift with respect to standard values fromSlettebak et al. (\cite{Slk_75}), previously found in the first paper,is here confirmed. Comparisons with data from the literature agree withour findings: v sin i values from Slettebak et al. are underestimatedand the relation between both scales follows a linear law ensuremath vsin inew = 1.03 v sin iold+7.7. Finally, thesedata are combined with those from the previous paper (Royer et al.\cite{Ror_02a}), together with the catalogue of Abt & Morrell(\cite{AbtMol95}). The resulting sample includes some 2150 stars withhomogenized rotational velocities. Based on observations made atObservatoire de Haute Provence (CNRS), France. Tables \ref{results} and\ref{merging} are only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.125.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/393/897

On the MBM 12 Young AssociationI present a comprehensive study of the MBM 12 young association (MBM12A). By combining infrared (IR) photometry from the Two-Micron All-SkySurvey (2MASS) survey with new optical imaging and spectroscopy, I haveperformed a census of the MBM 12A membership that is complete to 0.03Msolar (H~15) for a 1.75d×1.4d field encompassing theMBM 12 cloud. I find five new members with masses of 0.1-0.4Msolar and a few additional candidates that have not beenobserved spectroscopically. From an analysis of optical and IRphotometry for stars in the direction of MBM 12, I identify M dwarfs inthe foreground and background of the cloud. By comparing the magnitudesof these stars to those of local field dwarfs, I arrive at a distancemodulus 7.2+/-0.5 (275 pc) to the MBM 12 cloud; it is not the nearestmolecular cloud and is not inside the local bubble of hot ionized gas ashad been implied by previous distance estimates of 50-100 pc. I havealso used Li strengths and H-R diagrams to constrain the absolute andrelative ages of MBM 12A and other young populations; these dataindicate ages of 2+3-1 Myr for MBM 12A and ~10 Myrfor the TW Hya and η Cha associations. MBM 12A may be a slightlyevolved version of the aggregates of young stars within the Taurus darkclouds (~1 Myr) near the age of the IC 348 cluster (~2 Myr).

Catalogue of Apparent Diameters and Absolute Radii of Stars (CADARS) - Third edition - Comments and statisticsThe Catalogue, available at the Centre de Données Stellaires deStrasbourg, consists of 13 573 records concerning the results obtainedfrom different methods for 7778 stars, reported in the literature. Thefollowing data are listed for each star: identifications, apparentmagnitude, spectral type, apparent diameter in arcsec, absolute radiusin solar units, method of determination, reference, remarks. Commentsand statistics obtained from CADARS are given. The Catalogue isavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcar?J/A+A/367/521

The distance to the nearest star-forming clouds: MBM12 and MBM20We present high-resolution spectra (R ~ 49,000) of stars that haveparallax measurements from the Hipparcos satellite and are projectedalong the line of sight to the two nearest known star forming clouds tothe Sun: MBM12 and MBM20. The spectra were obtained with the FOCESEchelle Spectrograph at the 2.2 meter telescope in Calar Alto, Spain andthe wavelength range was chosen to include the interstellar Na I D linesat lambda 5889.950 Ä and lambda 5895.924 Ä. Since the starsare at a range of distances, we use their spectra along with theirparallaxes from Hipparcos to determine the distance to the moleculargas. The stars in front of the cloud do not show interstellar Na I Dabsorption features while the stars behind the cloud do showinterstellar absorption features. We find that both clouds are somewhatmore distant than previously estimated. The revised distance to MBM12 is58+/-5 pc < d < 90+/-12 pc and the distance to MBM20 is 112+/-15pc < d < 161+/-21 pc.

ROSAT PSPC observations of T Tauri stars in MBM12 PSPC observations of T Tauri stars in MBM12We present the ROSAT PSPC pointed and ROSAT All-Sky Survey (RASS)observations and the results of our low and high spectral resolutionoptical follow-up observations of the T Tauri stars (TTS) and X-rayselected T Tauri star candidates in the region of the high galacticlatitude dark cloud MBM12 (L1453-L1454, L1457, L1458). Previousobservations have revealed 3 ``classical'' T Tauri stars and 1``weak-line'' T Tauri star along the line of sight to the cloud. Becauseof the proximity of the cloud to the sun, all of the previously knownTTS along this line of sight were detected in the 25 ks ROSAT PSPCpointed observation of the cloud. We conducted follow-up opticalspectroscopy at the 2.2-meter telescope at Calar Alto to look forsignatures of youth in additional X-ray selected T Tauri starcandidates. These observations allowed us to confirm the existence of 4additional TTS associated with the cloud and at least 2 young mainsequence stars that are not associated with the cloud and place an upperlimit on the age of the TTS in MBM12 ~ 10 Myr. The distance to MBM12 hasbeen revised from the previous estimate of 65+/-5 pc to 65+/-35 pc basedon results of the Hipparcos satellite. At this distance MBM12 is thenearest known molecular cloud to the sun with recent star formation. Weestimate a star-formation efficiency for the cloud of 2-24%. We havealso identified a reddened G9 star behind the cloud with A_v ~ 8.4-8.9mag. Therefore, there are at least two lines of sight through the cloudthat show larger extinctions (A_v > 5 mag) than previously thoughtfor this cloud. This higher extinction explains why MBM12 is capable ofstar-formation while most other high-latitude clouds are not. Table~4 isonly available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html.}

Speckle Observations of Binary Stars with the WIYN Telescope. I. Measures During 1997Two hundred seventy-seven position angle and separation measures of 154double stars are presented. Three of the systems were previously unknownto be double, and 16 other systems were discovered earlier this decadeby the Hipparcos satellite. Measures are derived from speckleobservations taken with the Wisconsin-Indiana-Yale-NOAO (WIYN) 3.5 mtelescope located at Kitt Peak, Arizona. Speckle images were obtainedusing two different imaging detectors, namely, a multianode microchannelarray (MAMA) detector and a fast-readout CCD. A measurement precisionstudy was performed on a sample of binaries with extremely well knownorbits by comparing the measures obtained here to the ephemerispredictions. For the CCD, the root mean square (rms) deviation ofresiduals was found to be 3.5 milliarcseconds (mas) in separation and1.2d in position angle, while the residuals of the MAMA data varieddepending on the magnification used and seeing conditions but can becomparable or superior to the CCD values. In addition, the two cameraswere compared in terms of the detection limit in total magnitude andmagnitude difference of the systems under study. The MAMA system has theability to detect some systems with magnitude differences larger than3.5, although reliable astrometry could not be obtained on theseobjects. Reliable astrometry was obtained on a system of magnitudedifference of 5.3 with the CCD system.

Mapping the contours of the Local bubble: preliminary resultsWe present preliminary results from a long-term program of mapping theneutral absorption characteristics of the local interstellar medium,taking advantage of Hipparcos stellar distances. Equivalent widths ofthe NaI D-line doublet at 5890 Å are presented for thelines-of-sight towards some 143 new target stars lying within 300 pc ofthe Sun. Using these data which were obtained at the Observatoire deHaute Provence, together with previously published NaI absorptionmeasurements towards a further 313 nearby targets, we present absorptionmaps of the distribution of neutral gas in the local interstellar mediumas viewed from 3 different galactic projections. In particular, thesemaps reveal the Local Bubble region as a low neutral densityinterstellar cavity in the galactic plane with radii between 65-250 pcthat is surrounded by a (dense) neutral gas boundary (or ``wall''). Wehave compared our iso-column contours with the contours derived bySnowden et al. (\cite{snowden98}) using ROSAT soft X-ray emission data.Consistency in the global dimensions derived for both sets of contoursis found for the case of a million degree hot LB plasma of emissivity0.0023 cm(-6) pc with an electron density of 0.005 cm(-2) . We havedetected only one relatively dense accumulation of cold, neutral gaswithin 60 pc of the Sun that surrounds the star delta Cyg, and note thatthe nearest molecular cloud complex of MBM 12 probably resides at thevery edge of the Local Bubble at a distance of ~ 90 pc. Our observationsmay also explain the very different physical properties of the columnsof interstellar gas in the line-of-sight to the two hot stars epsilonCMa and beta CMa as being due to their locations with respect to theBubble contours. Finally, in the meridian plane the LB cavity is foundto be elongated perpendicularly to the Gould's Belt plane, possiblybeing ``squeezed'' by the expanding shells of the Sco-Cen andPerseus-Taurus OB associations. Tables 1 and 2 are also available inelectronic form at the CDS (Strasbourg) via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html

Progress on Establishing the Spatial Distribution of Material Responsible for the 1 4 keV Soft X-Ray Diffuse Background Local and Halo ComponentsIn this paper we present a new look at the distribution of emissionresponsible for the soft X-ray diffuse background (SXRB) using ROSATall-sky survey data. This is prompted by the demonstration of theexistence of extensive \frac {1}{4} keV emission in the Galactic halothat was not considered in the most successful previous model, in whichthe bulk of the observed \frac {1}{4} keV X-rays originated in a LocalHot Bubble (LHB) that surrounds the Sun. The basic distribution can berepresented by two angularly varying Galactic components (the LHB and anX-ray halo) and an isotropic extragalactic component. In addition, thereare the distinct enhancements of supernova remnants, superbubbles, andclusters of galaxies. Using the negative correlation between the SXRBand DIRBE-corrected IRAS 100 mu m intensity, we find a LHB that issimilar to previous models, although it is possibly more limited inextent. The emission of the LHB varies by a factor of ~3.3 withdirection and produces ROSAT \frac {1}{4} keV intensities between ~250and ~820 x 10-6 counts s-1 arcmin-2 (typically brighter at higherGalactic latitudes), with inferred emission measures of ~0.0018 to0.0058 cm-6 pc (assuming thermal ionization equilibrium). Thedistribution of the emission temperature of the LHB is peaked at 106.07K with a range of +/-12% at FWHM. While this variation is small and isperhaps due to systematic uncertainties in the analysis, there is asuggestion of a cooler region in the anticenter direction consistentwith previous studies. We derive halo plus extragalactic intensitiesthat vary from ~400 to >~3000 x 10-6 counts s-1 arcmin-2 outside theabsorbing gas of the Galactic disk. As the low end of the range iscomparable to what is expected for the extragalactic background, thisimplies that the halo emission varies considerably over the sky, withinferred emission measures ranging from near zero to >0.02 cm-6 pc.The distribution of emission temperatures in the halo, again derivedfrom thermal equilibrium emission models, peaks near 106.02 K and variesover +/-20% at FWHM.

Measurements of double stars 1993.67 - 1998.13624 Micrometer Measurements of 224 pairs with a 32.5 cm Cassegrain, 719Measurements of 310 double stars with a 360 mm Newtonian are given.Tables 1 to 4 are available in electronic form only at the CDS130.79.128.5 or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html

The photoelectric astrolabe catalogue of Yunnan Observatory (YPAC).The positions of 53 FK5, 70 FK5 Extension and 486 GC stars are given forthe equator and equinox J2000.0 and for the mean observation epoch ofeach star. They are determined with the photoelectric astrolabe ofYunnan Observatory. The internal mean errors in right ascension anddeclination are +/- 0.046" and +/- 0.059", respectively. The meanobservation epoch is 1989.51.

Vitesses radiales. Catalogue WEB: Wilson Evans Batten. Subtittle: Radial velocities: The Wilson-Evans-Batten catalogue.We give a common version of the two catalogues of Mean Radial Velocitiesby Wilson (1963) and Evans (1978) to which we have added the catalogueof spectroscopic binary systems (Batten et al. 1989). For each star,when possible, we give: 1) an acronym to enter SIMBAD (Set ofIdentifications Measurements and Bibliography for Astronomical Data) ofthe CDS (Centre de Donnees Astronomiques de Strasbourg). 2) the numberHIC of the HIPPARCOS catalogue (Turon 1992). 3) the CCDM number(Catalogue des Composantes des etoiles Doubles et Multiples) byDommanget & Nys (1994). For the cluster stars, a precise study hasbeen done, on the identificator numbers. Numerous remarks point out theproblems we have had to deal with.

The local distribution of NA I interstellar gasWe present high-resolution absorption measurements (lambda/Delta lambdaapproximately 75,000) of the interstellar Na I D lines at 5890 A toward80 southern hemisphere early-type stars located in the localinterstellar medium (LISM). Combining these results with other sodiummeasurements taken from the literature, we produce galactic maps of thedistribution of neutral sodium column density for a total of 293 starsgenerally lying within approximately 250 pc of the Sun. These mapsreveal the approximate shape of the mid-plane contours of the rarefiedregion of interstellar space termed the Local Bubble. Its shape is seenas highly asymmetric, with a radius ranging from 30 to 300 pc, and withan average radius of 60 pc. Similar plots of the Galactic mid-planedistribution of sources emitting extreme ultraviolet radiation show thatthey also trace out similar contours of the Local Bubble derived from NaI absorption measurements. We conclude that the Local Bubble absorptioninterface can be represented by a hydrogen column density,NuETA = 2 x 1019 cm-2, which explainsboth the local distribution of Na I absorption and the observed galacticdistribution of extreme ultraviolet sources. The derived mid-planecontours of the Bubble generally reproduce the large-scale featurescarved out in the interstellar medium by several nearby galactic shellstructures.

A high-resolution survey of interstellar NA I D1 linesWe present high-resolution (0.5 km/s) spectra, obtained with theMcDonald Observatory 2.7 m coude echelle spectrograph, of interstellarNa I D1 absorption toward 38 bright stars. Numerous narrow, closelyblended absorption components, showing resolved Na I hyperfinestructure, are evident in these spectra; such narrow components appearin both low halo and quite local gas, as well as in gas toward moredistant disk stars. We have used the method of profile fitting in anattempt to determine column densities, line widths, and velocities forthe individual interstellar clouds contributing to the observedabsorption lines. The resulting sample of 276 clouds is significantlylarger, and likely more complete, than several previous samples of'individual' interstellar clouds, and allows more precise investigationof various statistical properties. We find that the cloud column density(N) and line width parameter (b) are not correlated, for 0.3 km/sapproximately less than b approximately less than 1.5 km/s and 10.0/sqcm approximately less than log (N(Na I)) approximately less than 11.6/sqcm. The median b is about 0.73 km/s, the median log N is about 11.09/sqcm, and the median separation between adjacent components is about 2.0km/s. All these are overestimates of the true median values, however,due to our inability to completely resolve all the component structurepresent in some cases; even at a resolution of 0.5 km/s, we may havediscerned only 60% of the full number of individual components actuallypresent. The one-dimensional dispersion of component velocities, in thelocal standard of rest, is approximately 8.6 km/s; the distribution ofvelocities is broader and displaced to more negative velocities for theweaker components. If 80 K is a representative temperature for theinterstellar clouds seen in Na I absorption, then at least 38% (andprobably the majority) of the clouds have subsonic internal turbulentmotions. The range in N(H I) observed at a given N(Na I) increases asN(Na I) decreases below about 1011/sq cm, so that N(Na I)becomes a less reliable predictor of N(H I) at low column densities.These spectra will be quite useful in future detailed studies of theselines of sight with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Goddard HighResolution Spectrograph (GHRS) echelle -- to determine accuratevelocities and to reveal the detailed interstellar component structuresthat cannot be discerned at the 3.5 km/s resolution available with theGHRS.

Polarization measurements of stars in the region of the nearby molecular cloud MBM 12Linear polarization measurements of stars in the region of the nearbyhigh-latitude molecular cloud MBM 12 are presented. Stars behind thecloud show a polarization of about 2-3 percent, while stars that are infront of the cloud or are projected outside the cloud boundary show verylow values (less than 0.5 percent) of polarization. If the polarizationis caused by dust grains aligned by a magnetic field, the observedpolarization position angles suggest that the field in the cloud is moreor less unidirectional and is roughly parallel to the long axis of thecloud. The cloud magnetic field has a direction that is significantlydifferent from that of the local interstellar field, and its strengthmay be as large as about 60 microG.

An optical search for Beta Pictoris-like disks around nearby starsA coronagraphic survey of more than one hundred stars has been carriedout in a search at optical wavelengths for circumstellar materialsimilar to that found in the Beta Pictoris disk. The survey stars wereprimarily dwarfs in the spectral range A to K and most were closer than100 pc. No evidence of circumstellar material was found around any ofthe stars, suggesting that Beta Pictoris is an abnormal object,surrounded by an unusually large amount of optically scatteringmaterial.

Further high-resolution NA I observations of the local interstellar mediumHigh-resolution absorption measurements of the interstellar Na I D linesat 5890 A observed toward 27 early-type stars in the local interstellarmedium (LISM) are presented. These results are combined with otherhigh-resolution sodium measurements to map the space distribution ofneutral sodium column density for some 118 stars out to less than 200pc. These measurements indicate an upper limit to the neutral sodiumcolumn density of log N(Na I) less than 10.0/sq cm can be inferred outto a distance of 50 pc in most directions in the LISM. Also, therarefield region of the Local Bubble may extend beyond 60 pc in at least35 percent of the directions sampled thus far. Evidence is shown for aubiquitous, comoving vector for neutral NaI gas clouds in the LISM whichis in a different direction to LISM vectors previously reported for moreionized local gas clouds. A comparison of the measured sodium columnswith those of interstellar Ca II for a sample of 12 stars within 95 pcresults in a ratio of Na I/Ca II less than 0.5 for most stars. Thisvalue implies that there could be warm, neutral gas with T of about12,500 K beyond 50 pc in the LISM.

ICCD speckle observations of binary stars. IV - Measurements during 1986-1988 from the Kitt Peak 4 M telescopeOne thousand five hundred and fifty measurements of 1006 binary starsystems observed mostly during 1986 through mid-1988 by means of speckleinterferometry with the KPNO 4-m telescope are presented. Twenty-onesystems are directly resolved for the first time, including newcomponents to the cool supergiant Alpha Her A and the Pleiades shellstar Pleione. A continuing survey of The Bright Star Catalogue yieldedeight new binaries from 293 bright stars observed. Corrections tospeckle measures from the GSU/CHARA ICCD speckle camera previouslypublished are presented and discussed.

Search for wide binaries in the Yale Bright Star CatalogueA specific scheme for identifying wide binary candidates in the YaleBright Star Catalogue is presented. The choice of criteria for selectingcandidates is discussed, and the final criteria are used to compile apreliminary list of candidates which is presented and discussed. Thestatistics of the candidate list are characterized, and the list is usedto compute upper bounds on the wide binary density using a simpletheoretical model.

On the nearest molecular clouds. II - MBM 12 and 16The paper presents echelle spectra recorded at the D lines of Na I forthree stars projected on the high-latitude molecular cloud MBM 16 at l =172 deg, b = -38 deg. The A stars HD 21142 at about 95 pc and HD 21134at about 240 pc show strong D-line absorption at the same velocities asthe CO emission observed at these positions. The distance to MBM 16therefore is in the range of 60 to 95 pc. MBM 16 is only 11 deg awayfrom MBM 12, previously placed by the same method at distance of about65 pc. Consideration is given to the relationship between clouds 12 and16 and the local hot low-density interstellar gas.

The early A type stars - Refined MK classification, confrontation with Stroemgren photometry, and the effects of rotationThe MK classification system for the early A-type stars is refined, anda parallel system of standards for the broad-lined stars is introduced.With this improved system, stars may be classified with significantlygreater precision than before. It is shown that spectral types in thissystem are not systematically affected by rotational line broadening. Atotal of 372 early A-type stars are classified, and a confrontation ofthese spectral types with Stroemgren photometry reveals a number ofsystematic photometric effects of rotation. In particular, high v sin istars are systematically redder than low v sin i stars of the samespectral type, and the beta index is weakened by rotation. It isconcluded that precise spectral classification in conjunction withStroemgren and H-beta photometry can potentially provide a valuablecheck and input to the theory of the atmospheres of rotating stars.

ICCD speckle observations of binary stars. II - Measurements during 1982-1985 from the Kitt Peak 4 M telescopeThis paper represents the continuation of a systematic program of binarystar speckle interferometry initiated at the 4 m telescope on Kitt Peakin late 1975. Between 1975 and 1981, the observations were obtained witha photographic speckle camera, the data from which were reduced byoptical analog methods. In mid-1982, a new speckle camera employing anintensified charge-coupled device as the detector continued the programand necessitated the development of new digital procedures for reducingand analyzing speckle data. The camera and the data-processingtechniques are described herein. This paper presents 2780 newmeasurements of 1012 binary and multiple star systems, including thefirst direct resolution of 64 systems, for the interval 1982 through1985.

A molecular cloud in the local, hot interstellar mediumEchelle spectra recorded at the D lines of Na I are reported for nine Aor F stars. Lying at approximate distances ranging from 25 to 230 pc,the stars are projected on or near the high-latitude molecular cloud MBM12 at l = 159 deg, b = -34 deg. Among a subgroup of five of these starsseparated by no more than 1.2 deg on the sky, four which are located atdistances d more than 70 pc show strong interstellar D line absorptionnear the radial velocity of the CO emission observed in this generaldirection. The fifth star, at roughly 60 pc, shows no detectableabsorption. MBM 12 therefore probably lies at roughly 65 pc, within thelocal region filled primarily by very hot, low-density gas, a conclusionsupported by the large internal velocity dispersion of the molecularcloud complex.